Homeowners & Renters, Are you interested in getting solar and/or wind energy for your home? It’s easier than you think! Come to this renewable energy fair and learn what works for you! Event brought to you by the CPN Green … READ MORE

Tired of the grueling commute? Ever thought of taking the bus, leaving the driving to someone else? How about biking and getting exercise on your way to work? Come join your neighbors on an casual walk through the neighborhood to … READ MORE

Are plastics taking over your life? Do you know the facts about plastics? Stop by the Congress Park Green Team Information Table and learn how you can reduce the use of this environmental hazard, eat better, keep toxins out of … READ MORE

Tired of watering your lawn? Curious about “water-wise landscaping” and how it can save you money and water? Wondering if anyone in Congress Park already does this? Come to a workshop/walkshop for a short presentation from DenverWater followed by a … READ MORE

Featured

A big shout out to our Congress Park Neighbors Green Team! They were awarded a very prestigious award from Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation at their Annual Award Dinner. The award was the Neighborhood Excellence award and was the first given for "continuing commitment to bettering the environment" Read more →

The Green Team is excited to present a neighborhood-wide "Climate Action Forum" on Oct 6&7, 2017. Please join us in exploring how climate issues will affect us locally and what we can do together to take meaningful climate action here in our neighborhood.
[dropshadowbox align="none" effect="lifted-both" width="auto" height="" background_color="#ffffff" border_width="1" border_color="#dddddd" ]Click here to download the flyer to share with your neighbors! CPN_ClimateActionForum_8.5x11 [/dropshadowbox]Read more →

CPN Achieves “Participating Neighborhood” Certification!
Many thanks to all of the Congress Park neighbors involved with projects aimed at helping us reduce our environmental footprint while also improving the sustainability of our neighborhood. Since Congress Park’s acceptance into Denver’s Sustainable Neighborhood Network in August 2016, neighbors have brainstormed, designed and initiated a variety of projects, from a Recycling Workshop to Alley-Cleanups, each moving us just a few steps closer towards certification.
Did you know, for example, that our recent Leaf Drop project diverted over 200 bags of leaves from the landfill AND earned our neighborhood 16 credits?!? All because a neighbor like you had a great idea.

If YOU have an idea for a project, please come to a CPN Green Team meeting and meet others who can help bring your idea to life. Can’t make the meetings, contact the CPN Green Team at sustainability@congressparkneighbors.org.

With Earth Day only a few months away, we are in high-gear planning for our 2nd Annual Congress Park Earth Day Festival. The neighborhood-wide event will be held on Saturday, April 22, 2017 from 1 pm to 5 pm outdoors at 1100 Fillmore Street. Planning meetings are scheduled for every other Saturday (see Meeting Dates below). Event details are posted on the Earth Day Festival webpage (https://www.congressparkneighbors.org/earth-day/)

We are also seeking Exhibitors that fit our theme: “Think Globally, Act Locally!” Exhibits should include a fun learning activity and a Call To Action to help neighbors take steps to improve the sustainability in our neighborhood and beyond. Exhibitor registration is free but space is limited. Registration deadline is March 3.

See you Saturday, February 11 and Saturday February 25!
** Remember to come early (8:30 am) for bagels and catching up.

Please pick up a copy of the book (it is a quick read) and come ready to discuss ways we as individuals, as neighbors, and as a sustainable neighborhood in the making, can reduce our use of harmful plastics. Can’t get to the book in time? Come anyway! It promises to be a fascinating exploration of what WE can do about the problems with plastic.

During the energy-intensive heating season, many residents see a significant increase in energy bills and find that their homes are not as comfortable as they would like. To help neighbors to alleviate this issue, Congress Park’s Green Team hosted a Home Energy Efficiency Workshop with the Denver Energy Challenge at the Congress Park Taproom on January 26th. Thirty neighbors attended!

Insulate and air seal your building envelope. Insulation and air sealing are often the most effective ways to maintain a comfortable home. Keep warm air inside and cold air out by sealing attic spaces, rim joists and crawl spaces. If your walls, ceiling or floor are cold to the touch, you can maintain proper levels of insulation to block the thermal transfer of cold. Look for at least R-49 in the attic and R-15 around foundation walls. If you have an older home, do not use spray foam on the brick. It can cause a host of problems and cannot be removed. Look for blown cellulose insulation options instead.

You likely do not need to replace your windows. Many people assume that they need to tackle big ticket items like replacing windows to be energy efficient. In most homes, other less expensive measures can give you a much greater bang for the buck. Even single-pane windows in historic homes can be efficient with some specific maintenance.

Enroll in the Denver Energy Challenge. All Denver residents are eligible to take advantage of the city’s free energy advising service, the Denver Energy Challenge. Contact the program to get a neutral and expert advisor who will answer your questions and act as a personal concierge throughout the home energy improvement process. Call 720-865-5520 or learn more at www.denverenergy.org.

Residential Solar Options – Free Webinar Series

– Larry Grimm

Informeddecision-making is always best for any choices we make in our life. My cause is to inform the wonderful residents of Congress Park of their options to participate in Solar – reducing harm to the environment with their electrical use. Electricity powered by coal burning plants feeds the demand for coal and poisons our atmosphere, contributing to global warming. By switching to solar as a source, we reduce our “carbon footprint” and the use of coal.

“Can I afford solar?“

“What about the look on my roof? My home is a classic vintage and I don’t want to diminish the value with solar panels?”

For questions or assistance in connecting with solar sources contact Larry Grimm at 720-441-3289.

Let’s make Congress Park a Solar Neighborhood!

“In the Works” Projects

The CPNGT has several projects “in the works” and is always looking for additional team members to get involved.
For more information on these projects or (better yet) to get involved, please feel free to contact the person listed.

Neighborhood/Alley Cleanup Program – Organize Your Own!

Learn how to organize a successful Alley Cleanup on your own block or lend a hand with another neighbor’s effort.